Peterborough

Peterborough's population expanded in the 10 years leading up to the latest census. At the same time there were changes in religion, ethnicity and housing tenure.

The population passed 180,000

In the 10 years leading up to 2011, the population of Peterborough increased by 18%, from just over 156,000 to 184,000.

The addition of just under 28,000 people means this area's population was the fastest-growing in Eastof England and increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Peterborough was home to, on average, 3.8 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres).

Population density was higher than the average across Eastof England

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across Eastof England, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Peterborough

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Peterborough remained 35 years.

This suburban area had a lower average age than Eastof England and remained somewhat younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of just over 6,500 people between the ages of 20 and 29 years.

About 15% of people in Peterborough are aged between 20 and 29 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Peterborough by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Peterborough

The number of people in Peterborough that described themselves as having no religion increased from about 24,000 in 2001 to just over 45,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 16% to 25% of the local population.

The percentage increased by less than the average across Eastof England (from 17% to 28%) and the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Peterborough that described themselves as Christian decreased from about 110,000 in 2001 to about 100,000 in 2011 (from 68% to 57%). The number of people who described themselves as Muslim increased from about 9,000 to about 17,000 (from 5.7% to 9.4%).

About 12,000 people (8.4%) did not state their religion, down from just over 13,000 in 2001 (6.7%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between religious groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population without a religion in Peterborough increased by 9 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Peterborough by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Peterborough

The number of people in Peterborough from the White ethnic groups increased from about 140,000 in 2001 to just over 150,000 in 2011. However, as a percentage of the total population, this represented a decrease from 90% to 83%.

The percentage decreased by more than the average across Eastof England (from 95% to 90%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Peterborough from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from just over 11,000 in 2001 to just over 21,000 in 2011 (from 7.3% to 12%). The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from just under 2,300 to just over 4,900 (from 1.5% to 2.7%).

About 4,200 people (1.2%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from just over 1,900 in 2001 (2.3%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between ethnic groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from the White ethnic groups in Peterborough decreased by 7.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Peterborough by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Housing in Peterborough

The percentage of households that owner their home fell in Peterborough at a faster rate than in nearby Huntingdonshire.

In Peterborough, the proportion of home ownership decreased from 66% in 2001 to 59% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in Huntingdonshire decreased from 76% to 71%.

Across Eastof England, the share of households that owner their home decreased from 72% to 68%.

Private renting in Peterborough increased from 9.7% to 19%, while the rate of social housing decreased from 22% to 20%.

The rate of home ownership was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of households that that owner their home across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Peterborough residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 8.5% to 5.2% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (82%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 69% in 2001. The percentage of Peterborough residents that described their health as fair decreased from 23% to 13%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 7.6% in 2001 to 4.7% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Peterborough decreased by 3.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Peterborough, Eastof England and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

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Area report data

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